When I was an undergraduate at the University of Illinois I tried to play in as many ensembles as I possibly could. At any point in time I was a member of two different large ensembles and two different chamber ensembles. I also volunteered for every extra playing opportunity that came along. My theory was that all of the playing would provide valuable experience. However, in retrospect, I probably would have benefitted from only playing in one ensemble. I have always made sure to set aside a lot of extra time for practice, however, it was “tired” practice. At many times I would be physically and mentally exhausted before I ever started to practice.

During the past semester I didn’t play in any school ensembles because I wanted ample time to use towards my doctoral project. As a side effect of that decision my individual practice sessions became far more productive. I made as much progress in five months as I had in the previous two years.

If you are a current music student, be very careful as to how much time you spend playing in ensembles. The experience they provide is a good thing, however, they can also slow down your personal improvement.